Journal of Pharmacovigilance

Abstract

Effect of Narrowband Ultraviolet B Therapy on Serum Vitamin D in Saudi Patients with Vitiligo

Abdulaziz A Alnoshan, Amal Al-Najjar, Fatimah M Al-Mutairi and Reem Saad Alsubiae

Objective: To evaluate the effect of NB-UVB therapy on serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in Saudi patients with vitiligo.

Method: We estimated the levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] before, and after NB-UVB radiation in patients with vitiligo who did not take vitamin D supplement. A comparison was done between subsets of patients concerning gender and duration of treatment of NB-UVB.

Results: There were 39 patients with vitiligo. Females were 22 (56.4%) and males were 17 (43.6%).The mean vitamin D level before NB-UVB treatment was 29.575 ± 16.315 nmol/L. while vitamin D level was increased to 78.871 + 22.776 after treatment with significant differences (P < 0.0001). The males had mean vitamin D level 36.232 ± 19.505 nmol/L, while females had mean vitamin D level 24.431 ± 11.321 nmol/L at baseline. After NB-UVB treatment the males had vitamin D level of 78.888 ± 25.683 nmol/L. While females had mean vitamin D level78.859 ± 20.884 nmol/L. After 6 months of the NB-UVB treatment the delta change in vitamin D level was 38.888 ± 20.255 nmol/L while after 12 - 24 months of treatment with NB-UVB the delta change in vitamin D level was 60.252 ± 17.565 nmol/L (P = 0.001).

Conclusion: Patients who received narrow band ultra violet B radiation at wave length 309 nm as treatment of vitiligo are less likely to need vitamin D supplement to correct their vitamin D deficiency. More studies are needed in order to confirm these results and to establish UVB as treatment modalities to correct vitamin D levels in patients who cannot absorb vitamin D either orally or parentally.